If I may ...
They have primary jurisdiction wherever it pleases them. We had a bizarre case of two OD deaths in the same house the same day, one investigated by the sheriff's detective, the second one by MSP (that was after MSP stopped cooperating with a joint inestigative task-force). It used to be that they only investigated crimes if they happened within 6ft of a state highway, in recent years they have asserted statewide jurisdiction. In some counties, they have agreements where county police patrols some of the highways (e.g. PG), but that doesn't mean the staties can't kick down some doors if they feel like it.
MSP was founded in 1921 because the sheriff's had a hard time policing those newfangled motorized carriages and because the Baltimore PD grew tired of sending detectives all over the state to back up the then very rudimentary sheriff's offices (often only a sheriff and 3-4 deputies).
MSP has served its purpose. Now even the smallest counties in MD have capable sheriff's or police departments and are able to get access to investigative tools through regional cooperation. Time to fold up an unnecessary paramilitary organization that is a costly duplication of local efforts. The sheriffs are more than capable to run radar on state highways. Have the statewide police deal with statewide issues like MS13 and public corruption that can't be dealt with at the local level.
Some history I did not know. Well, I'm thinking, and tell me if I am off base here. That when the Maryland State Police is reduced in size and scope, will be when pigs, (no pun intended), become aerodynamically capable of flight. Other than that, I do agree with your assessment that they are costly, duplicative, and more so than not, redundant. Unfortunately, the term, "mission creep", came about for a reason. As of yet, no politician knows of a term such as, "reduction in spending", or, "reduction in personnel". Nope. Looking like we are stuck with them for evermore. And, lamentably, more likely than not, will continue to grow.
